Pasadena man admits molesting 4-year-old girl

PASADENA - A Pasadena resident and former substitute teacher pleaded guilty to molesting a 4-year-old relative, police said Wednesday.

Pasadena police didn't say where Miguel Angel Garcia used to work. However, local media identified the 25-year-old as a former substitute teacher at a Head Start program in Pasadena.

Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of lewd acts with a child on March 12, according to a statement released Wednesday by the police department. Booking records show he was also sentenced on March 12 to a year in jail.

It's not clear why police released the information only this week.

Garcia was arrested Dec. 30, 2011. Police said he admitted molesting the 4-year-old girl during questioning.

He was charged on January 3 with three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14.

During the investigation, detectives found out Garcia previously worked as a substitute teacher. Police said they told the facility about the arrest and that administrators notified parents.

Police said there are no additional victims and no other allegations have surfaced.

"He wasn't arrested in his capacity as a former preschool teacher. There are no victims that we know of, and we've done extensive investigations, that occurred at that location," Lt. Phlunte Riddle Garcia said.

Garcia is being held at Men's Central Jail with an immigration hold. An immigration hold is used on inmates who are undocumented immigrants.